Exploring the landscape of aesthetic pharmacy practice

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Aesthetic Medicine
• Regulatory Science

Background:

• Pharmacy practice is expanding into non-traditional roles, including aesthetic procedures.
• There is a lack of research on demographic patterns, motivations, and challenges for pharmacists in aesthetic practice, especially in Alberta, Canada.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore demographics, experience, practice settings, and services offered by Alberta pharmacists in aesthetic practice.
• To assess pharmacists' perceptions of support and barriers from the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP).
• To examine the relationship between experience and service complexity, and the impact of ACP contact on regulatory clarity.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to registered pharmacists in Alberta.
• Data collected included demographics, experience, practice settings, aesthetic services, and perceived support/barriers.
• Statistical analyses (Chi-square, Kendall's tau-c, Gamma tests) were used to identify trends.

Main Results:

• Younger pharmacists and those with less than five years of experience were more involved in aesthetic practice.
• Part-time pharmacists demonstrated stronger engagement in aesthetic services.
• Pharmacists expressed significant dissatisfaction with ACP support and communication, with ACP contact not improving regulatory clarity.

Conclusions:

• Aesthetic practice is a growing area for younger, part-time pharmacists, particularly those in hospital settings.
• There is a clear need for enhanced support, clearer guidelines, and improved communication from the ACP regarding aesthetic practice regulations.
• Regulatory bodies must ensure pharmacists are adequately equipped for safe and effective aesthetic service delivery, informing future policy and professional development.